Compasses.



M. NlLL.

COMPASSES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. 1917.

1,275,979. Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

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Specification of Zhetters Patent. Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Application filed July 13, 1917. Serial No. 180,341.

thereof, to compasses of a collapsible typev adapted to be incased to render them conveniently portable. 7

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, durable and extremely compact compass of the type above specified.

Another object of the invention is to provide inexpensive, and otherwise improved, means, whereby a compass may be collapsed and concealed in a portable form, said means further providing for quickly and conveniently extending or setting up the compass in an exposed position. i

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of conveniently operable means, whereby the compass parts may be collapsed within a tubular casing of small diameter. For instance, the usual dlameter of a pencil stem, so that, if desired, the parts may be manufactured and marketed in combination w th a pen or P811011, in order that the readings or findings of the compass may be recorded.

i Y view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, except that the compass parts are inverted to posi tion the needle for closure ofsthe' casing, and- Other objects of theinventionwill be, in

part obvious, and inipart particularly pointed'out' hereinafter. V In the accompanying drawings, wherem inents of the invention, l

Figure 1 is a view of acombmed pencil 'isshown one of the various possible embodiand compass comprising features of the in vention'; r

Fig. 2 is a view {ofthe same, with the split casing parts relatively withdrawn to extend. and exposethe' compass parts in operati've position. t' V p a Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sect on, taken on Fig. tis a longitudinal section takenon li e-a of Fig. Fig. 5 ma somewhat enlarged sectlonal Fig; '6 is an enlarged sectional view of'the locking mechanlsm shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is indicated at-1 a pencil casing split into two parts 2 and 3, these parts being adapted for relative longitudi nal movement, as indicated in the various figures of the drawing. Both parts of the casing are tubular in form andthe part 2 is comparatively long and is provided at one end with a split lead-holding pencil point 4 of usual construction. The part 3 of the casing is comparatively shortand has se cured therein two longitudinal rails 5 and 6 constituting upper and lower needle-supporting members of a compass frame or box indicated generally at 7. These upper and lower supporting members are secured with in the casing 3 by turning down their respective extremities, 8 and 9, in juxtaposition, and threading in the small screws 10, which pass through the end of the casing member 3, and also retain on the outside thereof a spring clip 11, the latter serving as a retaining device, enabling the tubular casing to be carried in a pocket and fastened to an edge thereof. Except when locked in compass-exposing position, as will more fully hereafter appear, the rails are slidably contained within the tubular casing part 2.

A needle-supporting pin 15 projects inwardly from the rail 6, whichis the lower rail inthe normal operative position of the compass, and p votally mounted on this pin is a compass needle 16 adapted to swivel thereon in the usual way under magnetic lnfiuences. The upper rail or supporting member 5 is fashioned with a substantially V-shaped channel 17, which is adapted to cooperate with a V-shaped head 18, provided 1 on the compass needle directly over the pivotal region- This head and groove serve,

whenthe' compass is turned from normal position through substantially 180, to cam 1 the needle into position parallel with the direction of closing" movement of the tubular casing, this being effected by the action ofgravity overcoming the magnetic influence from the needle. r 7

"There is also mounted betweentheupper and lower supporting rails, a collapsible compass ring 20, formed in four pivoted fquadrants, 21,22, 23 and 2 1. The quadrants 22 and 23 are pivotally secured together by "the small pivot stud 25, which has ahead portion 26, adapted toreciprocate in a 1ongitudinalgroove 27, provided near one end of the lowersupporting rail 6. The quadrantszl andQA are connected together for rant members into full extended position,

. filleted, as at 60, to facilitate the camm'ing where they will assume the circular form shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing. The quadrants 22 and 21 are connected by the pin 35, and the quadrants 24 and 23 are, in like manner, connected by a pin 36. The enlarged shank 31 of the pin 30 is provided with a retaining cap 37, which serves to hold the coiled spring 32 in position. A bent spring 4O has one end seated within the shank 31 of pin 30, and the other end extended to rest in the V-channel 17 and create a slight spreading tendency of the rails to improve the sliding fit characteristic of the' rails within the tubular casing part 2.

It will be noted that the lower rail 6 is substantially flat, and to complete the fit be tween this rail and the inner surface of the tubular casing part 2, a filler member 41 is introduced. This filler member is con structed with a short pin 42, the latter being adapted to be sprung into engaging position with a pin hole 43 provided in the casing part 2. This filler strip serves, addiv tionally, as a part of a locking mechanism, indicated generally at 45, in that it is slotted, as at 46, to receive the locking bolt or tongue 47 of a gravity lock member 48. This lock member is usually mounted upon two pins, a long pin50 and a somewhat shorter in 51, so that when the tubular casing an associated parts are turned through substantially 180 from normal position to what may be termed the needle-locating position, the gravity lock member 48 will fall and fulcrum around the head 52 of pin 50 until the tongue 47 is completely released from engagement with the end wall of the slot 46 in the filler member 41.

It will be seen that this filler'member is practically integral withthe casing part 2, so that, when the casing parts arerelatively separated and the compass is-in extended, exposed and normal position, the casing parts will not be closed, due to the fact that the tongue 47 is bearing against the end wall of the slot 46. The quadrants 21 and 24 are of the quadrants into collapsed position by engagement of the end edge of the casing part 2 therewith when the casing parts'are relatively longitudinally moved to compass concealing position. 1 In operation, assumingthe parts to be in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, if it is desired to open and set up the compass, this may be done by the operator simply drawing the casing parts 2 and 3 away from each other in a longitudinal direction. As soon as the casing part 2 is passed beyond the pivot points 35 and 36 of the quadrant, the spring 32 acts to extend the compass ring, and when the parts are separated to their fullest extent, the quadrants are completely extended into a circular form, and the needle may receive its magnetic action as soon as a suitable balance for the same is obtained. To facilitate this balance the clip 11 is provided with a pair of feet 61, (Figs. 4 and 5) which extend slightly beyond the diameter of the tubular casing, and serve to locate the device in normal operative position. The cardinal compass points may be designated on the ring or on the supporting surface, or both, as may be deemed expedient, and if desired, the ring may serve for the markings of the bi-cardinal and minor compass points, as indicated in Fig. 2. With all the parts in this extended and exposed position, the casing parts 2 and 3 are locked in separated relation. When it is desired to collapse and conceal the compass parts, the same may be readily effected by inverting the device so that gravity will effect the cam action of the needle heretofore described, and at the same time release the locking tongue 47 from its look ing position. The needle now being in par allelism with the supporting rails and protected thereby, the casing parts may be longitudinally moved toward each otl'ier'tothe closed position shown in Fig. 1.

In addition to the ease with which the device may be operated and its general simplicity, attention is directed to the easeof assembly of the parts and the general simplicity and durability of thedevice.

What is claimed .is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing, a needle frame mounted to slide into said casing and connected thereto and comprising a ring collapsible within said casing and supporting means for the compass needle, and a compass needle swiveled in said frame.

2. In a device ofthe'character described, in combination, a casing, comprising two.

longitudinally relatively movable parts, a

needle frame comprising a' collaps'iblering and. upper. and lower needle} supporting members "mounted to slide' into said casing parts and connectedthereto, a compass nee dle loosely supported between said members,

and means for collapsing said ring upon relative movement ofsaid casing parts it:

I ward each other.

3. In a device. of the character described, in combination, a casing comprising two longitudinally "relatively movable parts, a needle framecomprising a collapsible ring and upper and lower needle supporting members mounted to slide into said casing parts, a compass needle loosely supported between said members, means for automatically locking said needle in position to be incased, and means for collapsing said ring upon relative movement of said casing parts toward each other.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a split casing, the parts of which are relatively longitudinally movable, a compass needle frame mounted within said casing comprising upper and lower needle supporting members and a collapsible ring, a magnetic needle pivotally mounted on one of said supporting members, means on the other of said members for positioning; said needle for closure of said casing, and means for extending or collapsing said ring upon relative longitudinal movement of said casing parts.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a split casing, the parts of which are relatively longitudinally movable, a compass needle frame mounted Within said casing and connected thereto and comprising upper and lower needle supporting members and a collapsible ring, a magnetic needle pivotally' mounted on one of said supporting members, means on the other of said members for positioning said needle for closure of said casing, means for extending or collapsing said ring upon relative longitudinal movement of said casing parts, and locking means for holding the needle frame in extended position.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a split casing, the parts of which are relatively longitudinally movable to compass exposing or concealing position, and an extensible and collapsible compass device contained in said casing and connected thereto to be operated to extended and exposed position by relative movement of the casing parts.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination, a split casing, the parts of which are relatively longitudinally movable to compass exposing or concealing position, an extensible and collapsible compass device contained in said casing and connected thereto to be operated to extended and exposed position by relative movement of the casing parts, and a needle locating device for positioning the needle for closure of the casing.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, a split casing, the parts of which are relatively longitudinally movable to compass exposing or concealing position, an extensible and collapsible compass device contained in said casing and connected thereto to be operated to extended and exposed position by relative movement of the casing parts, a needle locating device for positioning the needle for closure of the easing, and means for locking the casing parts in relatively spaced positions with the com pass device extended and exposed.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, a split casing, the parts of which are relatively longitudinally movable to compass exposing or concealing position, an extensible and collapsible compass device contained in said casing and connected thereto to be operated to extended and exposed position by relative movement of the casing parts, a needle locating device for positioning the needle for closure of the casing, and means for locking the casing parts in relatively spaced positions with the compass device extended and exposed.

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, a split casing, the parts of which are relatively longitudinally movable to compass exposing or concealing position, an extensible and collapsible compass device contained in said casing and connected thereto to be operated to extended and exposed position by relative movement of the casing parts, a needle locating device for positioning the needle for closure of the casing, and means for locking the casing parts in relatively spaced positions with the compass device extended and exposed, said needle locating device being operative and said locking means being inoperative when the aforesaid parts are moved rotatively to a certain position, whereby the casing may be closed over the collapsed frame.

MAGNUS NIELL.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

